The Race for #1 in FPL: Can Anyone Catch Ibsen?

Last updated: Wednesday 22 April, 23:03. With seven gameweeks remaining and the top five separated by just 38 points, the battle for the global number one spot is one of the most compelling storylines left in the 2025/26 FPL season. Here is where everyone stands, what they did in GW33, and what their remaining chips tell us about who will finish on top.

 

Before we get started, make sure you check out our Best Free Hit 34 team if you are on Free Hit, as well as our Best Captains and Best Differentials pieces.

And as always, make sure you check out our Predicted Line-Ups and Team News Hub before locking in any changes.

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The Standings

The gap from first to fifth is just 38 points. With a Free Hit capable of swinging 20-40 points in a single week, and a Triple Captain capable of doing the same, this race is genuinely wide open. Every point matters from here.

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1st Place — Ibsen (Erik Ibsen) — GW33: 112pts | Total: 2,248

Chips remaining: Triple Captain, Free Hit

Despite a down gameweek by bench boost standards, Erik Ibsen enters the business end of the season with 2 chips still in his pocket. He still holds both a Triple Captain and a Free Hit. With the latter likely being played this week and the Triple Captain in DGW36.

GW33 was, however, his weakest week of the top five. A score of 112 via Bench Boost placed him at a GW rank of 453,458 — by far the lowest of the five managers this gameweek — and the gap between his score and the other 4 shrunk significantly. The construction of his Bench Boost squad had some bright spots, including the Haaland captaincy and van Hecke inclusions. Sadly where points were severely dropped was somewhere between the 2 Chelsea assets, Semenyo and the Thiago and Gabriel blanks. Given how many Doublers hauled, these were always going to sting. The plus side is, is unlike the doublers, he now has Gabriel and Thiago primed for an end of the season run.

The 112 was workable but not dominant. Ibsen leads by 28 points over second place, which sounds comfortable — but with Ortulan, Kristoffersen, Rutman and Kaewlee all scoring between 127 and 134, the chasing pack have momentum. The saving grace for Ibsen is those remaining chips. A huge Free Hit week or a key asset in a double gameweek could swing 20+ points in one fell swoop. He is still in a strong position, but this gameweek will have focused his mind.

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2nd Place — mirinda (Luka Ortulan) — GW33: 128pts | Total: 2,220

Chips remaining: Free Hit, Triple Captain

The former FPL number 1 Luka Ortulan moved into second place with a composed 128-point Bench Boost, and now sits just 28 points behind Ibsen with the same chip stack remaining. That symmetry is significant — both men still have a Triple Captain and a Free Hit to deploy, meaning this contest could come down to the wire.

His GW33 team was great. The optimum goalkeeper duo of Darlow and Verbruggen gave it a great foundation. The differential inclusions of Truffert and Hinshelwood were another big win for Ortulan. Not least considering many went for Hill over Truffert instead, myself included. However, although these differentials did provide some relieve, he was left slightly reeling after the captaincy choice. Differential options are understandable when chasing down number one in the world. However, there is no doubt it still stings, as those extra 8 points could have really turned up the heat. Nonetheless a great effort, and an effort that symbolises Ortulan is prepared to take risks. We could be in for a serious title race.

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3rd Place — Palmerout (Martin Vist Kristoffersen) — GW33: 134pts | Total: 2,217

Chips remaining: Free Hit

Martin Vist Kristoffersen posted the highest score of the entire top five in GW33 — 134 points via Bench Boost — and has now moved to within 31 points of the summit. Two consecutive weeks of strong scores have thrust him into title contention.

His GW33 team was elite. From the Haaland captaincy to the Gross inclusion. Naturally he missed out on some of the other differential picks which his fellow challengers were able to pick up on. But his nailing of the armband combined with the Gross inclusion made sure he had one of the top scores on the week.

The one potential concern for Kristoffersen is the chip picture. He has only a Free Hit remaining, which will likely be used this week. Meaning he does not have the same ace up his sleeve that Ibsen and Ortulan do. At 31 points behind with only Free Hit in reserve, he needs to find a week where he nails some differential captaincy or player options to really close the gap. It is absolutely possible, but the margin for error is slim. He needs a huge Free Hit week in GW34.

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4th Place — SheBK (Vladimir Rutman) — GW33: 127pts | Total: 2,212

Chips remaining: Free Hit

Vladimir Rutman sits fourth with 2,212 points, 36 behind Ibsen and just 5 behind Kristoffersen in third. Like Kristoffersen, he is chip-limited — only a Free Hit remaining — but his GW33 showing was also a very solid one.

Like Kristofferson, he also nailed the Gross pick and the Haaland captaincy. But also missed out on some of the other week defining hauls such as Tavernier, Truffert, Justin, Kadioglu etc.

Also like Kristofferson, given he is a chip down, he will have to rely on differential gains to chase down the leading pair. Nonetheless, he remains in a solid spot.

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5th Place — Noche (Phisan Kaewlee) — GW33: 132pts | Total: 2,210

Chips remaining: Free Hit, Triple Captain

Phisan Kaewlee is the most intriguing figure in this top five. He sits fifth — but only just, 38 points behind Ibsen — and crucially, he still holds both a Free Hit and a Triple Captain. Of the three trailing managers, he is arguably in the best spot to chase the top 2, given he still has two chips in the bank.

His GW33 Bench Boost was the second-highest score in the top five at 132 points. Like the others he also nailed the goalkeeper pair as well as the captaincy. He was also the only one who capitalised on the Kadioglu haul. On the flip side however, his Chelsea triple up really dragged down the potential of what could have otherwise been a generational gameweek.

The Kadioğlu differential was the defining call of Kaewlee’s week. While most of the top five had similar structures, that one selection separated him from the pack and pushed him to a very high Gameweek rank. If he can use both his chips effectively, he could easily make up some ground on the leaders.

Game on.

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Summary: How This Race Will Be Won

The mathematics are straightforward, even if the execution is not. Five managers. 38 points separating them. Seven gameweeks left. At least one more double gameweek to go.

The chip picture is the defining factor from here. Ibsen and Ortulan each hold a Triple Captain and a Free Hit — the same arsenal — and their contest looks like it will be decided by whoever nails those chips best. This Free Hit week could have massive implications as a result. Unless they go for different triple captains in DGW36, this Free Hit week has the potential to be the league defining swing, and is certainly Ortulan’s best opportunity at gaining some serious ground.

Kristoffersen and Rutman, with only Free Hits remaining, need two things to happen: their own Free Hits to land, and Ibsen or Ortulan to miss with their chips. It is possible — chip misfires happen at every level — but they are dependent on others making mistakes.

Kaewlee is the wildcard. Fifth place, same chips as the leaders, and in a better spot than 3rd and 4th to chase them down. If anyone is going to produce a late surge from 3rd, 4th and 5th, it is him.

The title is Ibsen’s to lose. But with five elite managers, two high-variance chips still in play across the pack, and seven gameweeks of football left, this is far from over. Check back every gameweek — because this one is going to the wire.

 

Check out our Game Week Tips section for more Gameweek 34 Tips.